PLATE SIX:. 



MALURUS LONGICAUDUS (Gould). 



LONG -TAILED SUPERB WARBLER. 



THE present species is abundantly distributed over Tasmania and the islands in Bass's Straits, inhabiting 

 in particular all scrubby places and gullies. 



It procures its food of insects on the ground, and among fallen trees and logs. It runs along 

 the ground with great swiftness, very seldom using its powers of flight. 



During the winter it is very tame, but becomes much more shy in the breeding season. 



It breeds from August to January, building a nest of grass and leaves, lined with feathers and fur, 

 and placing it either in a tuft of grass or in a small bush. The eggs, which are five in number, are fleshy- 

 white, with blotches of reddish-brown irregularly distributed over the surface. They are nine lines in 

 length and six and a quarter lines in breadth. This bird not only rears two or three broods of its own, 

 but also acts as foster mother to the young of Clirysococcyx Lucidus. 



The male has the head, ear-coverts, and a lunar-shaped mark on the upper part of the back, 

 light blue; the rest of the upper surface, the throat and chest, black; wings, brown; tail, blackish-brown: 

 abdomen, greyish-white ; irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brown. 



The female has the lores and a circle round the eye, reddish-brown ; upper surface, brown ; all 

 under surface, greyish-white ; the rest as in the male. 



Habitats : Tasmania and adjacent Islands. 



MALURUS MELAN0CEP1IALUS (Vig. and Horsf.) 



BLACK- HEADED SUPERB WARBLER. 



THE Malurus Melanoc&phalus is found in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, 

 particularly in damp places, such as ravines and valleys where there is abundance of long grass. 



It runs about the ground, holding its tail erect, and sometimes mounts on a high stem of grass 

 to pour forth a feeble, but not unmelodious note. 



It is most closely allied to Malurus Cydneus, which it resembles greatly in habits. 



The male has the head, neck, ear-coverts, tail-coverts, tail and under surface, black; wings, dark 

 brown; back and rump, scarlet; irides, bill, and feet, brown. 



The female is brown, the under surface being lighter than the upper part. 



Habitats : New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 



